AUGUST 22, 2014
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UBJ AUTOMOTIVE
21–31 2014
Inside Deep Orange 4 3-D rapid prototyping helped create CU-ICAR’s latest project car JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com CU-ICAR introduced its Deep Orange 4 project car, based on the Greer-made BMW X3, earlier this month at the CAR Group Management Briefing Seminars in Michigan. Students developed the concept vehicle using a cost-efficient manufacturing plan and rapid-prototype parts to create a versatile SUV. “This project has a bit of dual personality,” said Suzanne Dickerson, director of international business development at CUICAR. “It’s really the best of both worlds for our students to not only consider consumer lifestyles in the conceptual design process, but to also look at the very practical elements involved in manufacturing it in the most capital-efficient way.”
u THE DETAILS
Sliding roof – – – –
One of the largest openings of all competitive SUVs Trunk transforms into open-bed configuration Utility of a pickup truck Integrates BMW X3 panoramic roof module
Rear doors
– Two doors replace rear BMW X3 hatch – Access to open trunk space for larger cargo – Unique hinge mechanism – Tailgate houses retractable part of panoramic roof
3 FOR
Rear storage and window
– Window mechanism behind rear seats seals cabin, protects passengers from conditions – Folds completely flat to allow more cargo space – Rear seats provide a flat-load floor – Trunk compartment lined with real wood, waterproofed
$30 MENUS
RAPID PROTOTYPE PARTS • 3-D rapid prototype parts used to complete build of entire upper part • Faster, less expensive than traditional metal parts and die technology • Rapid prototype FDM parts from Redeye on Demand • First application of rapid prototyping at CU-ICAR
TECHNOLOGY PARTNERS • BMW • DOW Automotive Systems • DRIVE • Spartanburg Steel Products Inc. • GESTAMP • KTM Solutions Inc. • AutoPacific • Human Solutions • Michelin • SAGE Automotive Interiors
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August 22, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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Volume 3, Issue 34
August 22, 2014
Top-of-mind and in the mix this week
WORTH REPEATING “We have plenty of dry powder and a long runway.” Page 7
“We don’t want to be good at a lot of stuff – we want to be great at one thing.” Page 17
Page 26
MONEY SHOT: Ben Renkema with Boyd Cycling adjust the spokes while truing up a Boyd Cycling wheel. Read more on page 16.
TBA q Word is that Biscuit Head, an Asheville breakfast and lunch eatery, is coming to Greenville, possibly at South Ridge on Church Street. More to come... Plans for 51 new multifamily apartments at Stone and Rowley Streets may be changing. Blue Wall REI says it has agreed to sell the project to the Beach Company. This would be the Beach Company’s third project in downtown Greenville. A Beach spokesman says it’s too early to say more… 4
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
August 22, 2014
VERBATIM
On America’s Engineering Capitals… “Today, where engineers concentrate, we can expect the greatest capacity for innovation.” Forbes, naming the GreenvilleMauldinEasley area No. 6 on its list of “America’s Engineering Capitals.” See the whole list at onforb.es/1oXB6da.
Photo by Greg Beckner/Staff
“This is a watershed moment for downtown Greenville.”
UBJ RETAIL
Greenlink seeks retailer for space in Transit Center Interested parties may contact Gregory Baney, Greenlink manager of administration, at 864-298-2753 or gbaney@greenvillesc.gov. Proposals are due by Wednesday, Sept. 10, at 2 p.m. The deadline for questions is Tuesday, Sept. 2.
SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Proposals are now being accepted to find a retail vendor to lease space at the main Greenlink Transit Center at 100 W. McBee Ave. in downtown Greenville. The Greenville Transit Authority, Greenlink and the City of Greenville have issued a request for proposals to find a retail vendor for newly renovated space in the lobby of Greenlink’s new administrative offices. Kathy Voss, marketing and program specialist with Greenlink, said they “aren’t quite sure” what kind of retailer will go into the 12.5-by11-foot area, but said it would be ideal for a souvenir vendor, a
THE INBOX Greenville memorabilia-type shop or Greenville-themed apparel store. Voss said the center gets a lot of visitors coming in and asking questions from the nearby B-cycle station as well as buses coming
THE INBOX
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UBJ TRANSPORTATION
Spartanburg downtown airport expansion continues JOE TOPPE | STAFF
jtoppe@communityjournals.com Designed to attract additional business traffic and accommodate larger jets, Spartanburg’s Downtown Memorial Airport is undergoing a $20 million revitalization project. As part of the four-phased project, a 700foot extension of the runway and a 1,000-foot extension of the runway’s safety area are planned following the acquisition of three residential properties. From start to finish and including the new
u THE FINE PRINT The city’s largest owned asset. Along with corporate jets representing many of Spartanburg’s largest companies, the airport serves over 100 local aircraft and 5,000 general aviation airports throughout the U.S.
terminal building, the project is five years in the making, with the Federal Aviation Commission providing the bulk of the funding. Airport director Darwin Simpson said the runway expansions would complete the final two phases of the project. “We have a lot of businesspeople wanting direct access to the city of Spartanburg, and the runway extension will allow a larger of volume of traffic and larger jets,” he said. Construction bids on the final two phases were due Aug. 21.
– exisiting runway safety area – proposed runway extension
SPARTANBURG DOWNTOWN MEMORIAL AIRPORT
u AIRPORT PARTNERS u Spartanburg Convention and Visitors Bureau u Pivotal Aviation u Spartanburg Pilots Association u Richard Crouse & Associates u Aero II Inc.
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UBJ AEROSPACE
Ranger Aerospace partners with Azalea Capital APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF
amorris@communityjournals.com Greenville-based Ranger Aerospace LLC, a private equity consolidator in aerospace operations and aviation services, announced Monday that it is partnering with another Upstate company, the Azalea Capital private equity firm, to create Ranger AeroSystems Inc., which will jointly pursue investments and acquisitions in the aerospace industry. Ranger Aerospace CEO Steve Townes said it made sense to connect with Azalea Capital to invest in the growing aerospace sector. Ranger AeroSystems anticipates adding other capital partners, he said. The new venture will focus on lower middle-market aerospace segments including precision manufacturing, component overhaul and specialty or niche MRO (maintenance, repair and overhaul), Ranger said in a statement. Target investments include U.S. domestic companies with $10 million minimum revenues and scalable operations. “This combination of proven management experts and strong investors bodes well for building a large and lasting enterprise,” Townes said. “We have plenty of dry powder and a long runway, and we are focused on aerospace industry seg-
STEVE TOWNES
ments where middle market consolidation opportunities are there for the making,” he said. “We’ve done this several times before in a big way – we’re doing it again.” Azalea Capital is a Greenville-based private equity firm that invests in middle-market companies with revenues of $10 million to $100 million, focusing on manufacturing, health care, energy and industrial services, consumer packaged goods and aerospace.
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UBJ TECH BYTES
Prepare to launch at Greenville’s first Startup Weekend SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com Listen up, entrepreneurs. Got a good idea for a new app or perhaps a business idea that would fit in perfectly with the booming Greenville economy? Well, you’ve got a little less than two months to get ready to pitch the idea at Greenville’s first Startup Weekend, Oct. 17-19 at the Iron Yard. It works something like this: Entrepreneurs, aspiring entrepreneurs, students or anyone else who is interested can buy a ticket via the event website. Then, show up Friday evening at 6 p.m. with a 60-second elevator pitch for the idea. Judges pick the top eight-to-10 ideas, and teams are formed with a mixture of
attendees who have skills in business, design and technical knowledge. The teams then go off and flesh out the idea – building prototypes, coming up with marketing plans, determining their target customers and figuring out how the idea can get to market. On Sunday evening, everyone gathers together again in front of the judges to demo their prototypes and receive feedback from the expert panel. There are no cash prizes, but rather incentives such as free coworking space, marketing assistance, mentorship and invaluable experience. Roy Schmidt and Jeff Boeh at the Iron Yard and Josh Morris of Robert Half Technology are spearheading the event and expect about 60-80
JUDGES PHIL YANOV, founder, Tech After Five JOHN WARNER, CEO, InnoVenture LLC
people to attend the first-ever Greenville Startup Weekend. The Iron Yard, in conjunction with HubBub, held a startup weekend in Spartanburg earlier this year and said it was very successful. The framework, which is sponsored by StartupWeekend.org and Google for Entrepreneurs, provides organizations with boilerplate templates that make it easier to organize the weekend and provide guidance on what is needed to pull the event off.
Finally. THE ALL NEW 2015 C-CLASS HAS ARRIVED.
MIKE OKUPINSKI, co-owner, Community Tap DAVID PENCE, founder and CEO, Acumen EDGE ANNA LOCKE, president and founder, A.T. LOCKE, PC
In addition to judges, 10-12 coaches will be on hand to mentor and assist the teams as well as keynote speakers throughout the weekend. If interested in participating or sponsorships, visit bit.ly/GVL-startup-weekend.
UBJ HOSPITALITY
Stone Bill may brew up future business Brewery’s short list for Eastern location does not include Palmetto State APRIL A. MORRIS | STAFF
NUMBERED
amorris@communityjournals.com
Excise taxes likely played a role in Stone Brewing’s decision:
Gov. Nikki Haley held a ceremonial signing for what is known as the “Stone Bill” last week at Conquest Brewing Company in Columbia, allowing brewers in South Carolina to now serve food and removing the 48-ounce per-day, per-person limit for on-premises consumption. In addition, if a brewery serves food, it can now sell other producers’ beer and wine to customers. Named for San Diego-based Stone Brewing Company, the bill was passed in record time in May to help attract the company, which was scouting an Eastern location for
18 cents/gallon – Ohio 25 cents/gallon – Virginia 77 cents/gallon – South Carolina
BEHIND THE BILL THE STONE BILL: • Allows brewers in S.C. to serve food its brewery and restaurant model. The Palmetto State didn’t make the cut: Stone announced last week that the three finalists are Richmond and
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Norfolk, Va., and Columbus, Ohio. Stone Brewing expects to announce its final choice in 30 to 60 days, said spokeswoman Sabrina LoPiccolo. Despite that loss, established South Carolina breweries are hurrying to set up their own dining options, everything from a small kitchen at Charleston’s Holy City Brewing to a deli counter at Thomas Creek Brewing, one of the Upstate’s oldest breweries. The Stone Bill came quickly on the heels of the 2013 Pint Bill, which allowed breweries to serve up to 16-ounce samples of beer (up to a total of 48 ounces in 24 hours) rather than 2- to 4-ounce samples in conjunction with a brewery tour. Though Stone Brewing proved a miss, officials say the new legislation will pave the way for other breweries, like Oregon-based Deschutes Brewery, which may be considering expansion east and could consider South Carolina after passage of the Stone Bill, said founder and CEO Gary Fish. “This change quickly moves South Carolina into a position of leadership for the fast-growing craft brewing industry that is experiencing such great success across the United States,” said state Sen. Sean Bennett at the bill signing. “It further enhances our state as a place where entrepreneurs can thrive. Where
August 22, 2014
• Removes previous limit for on-premises consumption • Allows brewers serving food to sell other producers’ beer and wine they can create jobs, invest capital, and positively impact the communities in which they operate.” Brook Bristow, counsel for the SC Brewers Association, said more could be done to attract brewers, specifically regarding state taxes. “There is no question that South Carolina came close. Stone watched our legislative work on the new law. Stone had people on the ground visiting properties. Stone seriously considered us,” Bristow said. “With laws now being equal, it’s likely that excise taxes made a difference. For every gallon of beer, Virginia’s tax is 26 cents and Ohio’s is 18. South Carolina’s beer excise tax is 77 cents per gallon, which is the seventh-highest in the country,” he said. Reducing the excise tax would “provide much-needed relief to small businesses, consumers, and to any future recruitment efforts for outof-state companies,” he said.
SHORT LIST
Finalists for Stone Brewing’s Eastern location: u Richmond, Va. u Norfolk, Va. u Columbus, Ohio
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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UBJ FINANCE
CertusBank names Poelker chairman and CEO Bank makes interim appointment official, adds six new directors SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF
sjackson@communityjournals.com CertusBank, the banking subsidiary of CertusHoldings Inc., has named John S. Poelker chairman of the board of directors as well as president and CEO. Poelker joined CertusBank as interim president and CEO in April 2014. “The transition in the management of our company over the last few months has gone very smoothly, and our board and our teammates have greatly appreciated John’s leadership and guidance throughout the process,” said Douglas W. Johnson, chairman of a committee of independent directors. “His appoint-
INSIGHT PRECONSTRUCTION CONSTRUCTION MAINTENANCE
ment as the leader of CertusBank marks an important point in our company’s path forward. We are making steady progress in addressing Certus- POELKER Bank’s structural and financial challenges, and are delighted to formalize and expand John’s role.” The company also announced at its annual meeting on Aug. 6 in New York City that the shareholders of CertusHoldings Inc. re-elected its five current directors and elected six new directors with deep financial knowledge, extensive industry experience and strong managerial backgrounds. The newly elected directors will serve
as members of the boards of both CertusHoldings Inc. and CertusBank. Appointments to the board are subject to non-objection by the Federal Reserve for the holding company and the Office of the Controller of the Currency (OCC) for the bank. The applications have been accepted by the OCC. The new directors are:
focused on the small-cap sector of the U.S. equity markets. North Star is an investor in CertusHoldings Inc.
u Bruce L. Campbell – Principal of ALCO Partners LLC, a financial risk advisory firm focused on bank risk management.
u Bradford B. Kopp – Financial services industry advisor with extensive banking industry experience with RBS America, Citizens Financial Group, Lehman Brothers and Bank of N.T. Butterfield & Son (Bermuda).
u Howard S. Hoffmann – Managing partner of De Novo Perspectives LLC, a firm specializing in financial and operational performance improvement. u Andrew R. Jones – Founder of North Star Partners, an alternative investment company dedicated to value investing
u Nooruddin (Rudy) S. Karsan General manager of IBM Kenexa Smarter Workforce. Karsan cofounded Kenexa, a provider of proprietary tools for employee recruitment and retention, in 1987.
u L. Spencer Wells – Partner at Drivetrain LLC, a provider of investment-focused fiduciary expertise with an extensive background in investment management and finance.
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UBJ LEADERSHIP
Riley Institute selects 44 Upstate DLI Fellows The Riley Institute at Furman’s Diversity Leaders Initiative has selected its 18th class of Fellows. Forty-four leaders from the Upstate will join more than 1,300 Riley Fellows from across the state. Class members meet over the course of five months in a format driven by timely, relevant case studies and other experiential learning tools designed to maximize interactions and productive relationships among program participants. As part of the program, leaders also work in cross-sector groups to respond to real issues and opportunities in their communities through capstone service projects. Participants are chosen by nomination and application, and repre-
sent the corporate, nonprofit, education, faith-based and government sectors.
Frederick Cartwright, CU-ICAR
RILEY FELLOWS UPSTATE CLASS 18
Charles Crite, Webster University Metro Campus
Dave Andrews, Michelin North America
Brooke Culclasure, The Riley Institute
Scot Baddley, YMCA of Greenville
Lee Davis, Clemson University
Darian Blue, Nicholtown Missionary Baptist Church Thomas Bonn, BMW Manufacturing Karen Burgess, Brown Mackie College Linda Butler, BMW Manufacturing
Scott Clark, Peace Center Foundation
Eric Englebardt, Turner Padget Graham & Laney, PA Delisa English, The Blood Connection
Frank O’Brien, TD Bank
Frankie Felder, CU-ICAR
Johnna Reed, Bon Secours St. Francis Health System
Brett Gaffney, Greenville Technical College
Bobbie Rhodes, Greenville Health System
Troy Hanna, The Spartanburg County Foundation
Tracy Richardson, Anderson Oconee Pickens Mental Health Center
Charles Harris, Greenville Human Relations Commission; First Domain Properties LLC
Kathy Rivers, Spartanburg County
Michael Hildebrand, Greenville Health System
Matt Rollins, First Baptist Greenville
Cauiss Holmes, Michelin North America
Carey Rothschild, Spartanburg Regional Healthcare System
Kate Kaup, Furman University
Ame Sanders, Michelin North America
Victoria Kirby, Furman University Victor Koelsch, Michelin Americas Truck Tires
Christy Thompson, ScanSource Inc.
Stephen Kovalcik, City of Greenville
Alonzo Thompson, City of Spartanburg
Tracy Lamb, American Services Inc.
Neal Urch, Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office
Reid Lehman, Miracle Hill Ministries
Elizabeth Varga, Greenville Technical College
Heather Lyndon, BMW Manufacturing
Alicia White, Cabela’s Inc. James White, New Life of Excellence Church
Beverly McAdams, Anderson University Erica McCleskey, United Way August 22, 2014
www.MAVINCONSTRUCTION.com
Asha McMillian, MAU Workforce Solutions
Dean Woods, Anderson University
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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UBJ HOSPITALITY
Cliffs opens venues to host corporate events Under new Corporate Development Manager Brad Skelton, events privileges at The Cliffs will now extend beyond private members to corporate groups. Corporate events can be held at one of The Cliffs’ 21 venues. The Cliffs offers a variety of venues and event spaces for corporate groups, including professional
meeting rooms, private dining and reception spaces, a ballroom, seven championship golf courses for group outings and tournaments, and recreational and wellness facilities. Skelton – who served as a sales executive for The Cliffs from 2002 to 2008 and was the tournament director of the Nike Tour (now Web.com
The Event Barn at The Cliffs at Mountain Park.
Photos Provided
The Cabin at The Cliffs at Mountain Park.
SKELTON
Tour) from 1994 to 1996 – will be responsible for cultivating corporate relationships locally, regionally, and nationally and bringing more business professionals to The Cliffs through offerings that will include events
services and lodging initiatives. For more information about planning a corporate event at The Cliffs, contact The Cliffs Private Events Team at events@CliffsLiving.com or 855-755-1443.
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Anna T. Locke
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
August 22, 2014
Reporting | Analysis | Forecasting
By LAURA HAIGHT, president, portfoliosc.com
DIGITAL MAVEN The technical side of business
Open a new Window
A longtime Mac aficionado takes a step into the brave new world of Microsoft laplets It’s not like I never had a non-Apple device before. My very first PC (warning: age spoiler) was the first IBM PC 5120. It was a behemoth with a tiny screen and a giant CPU that had two floppy drives that you would interchange between the programming disk and the storage disk. That’s right: no hard drive. Along with it came IBM’s Displaywrite software and its six manuals. Together the display, keyboard and CPU weighed in at a hefty 48 pounds. Nonetheless, it was a miracle, and we were excited to be on the cutting edge. Over the years, I’ve had a number of Apple computers and a much higher number of Windows-based PCs and laptops. But ultimately, for my personal and business use, I’ve found Apple products suit me better. But recently I’ve been feeling that I was getting too far away from the PC and that I needed to get my hands on a PC to be able to write fairly and to offer the best advice and assistance possible to my clients who are moving on past Windows 7 and into a new world of tiles and charms. Rather than a buy a traditional laptop, I bought a hybrid moving more in the direction that I believe all computing will: a Microsoft Surface Pro 3. I bought this version, although considerably more expensive, over the Surface RT because it runs full versions of all Microsoft software. Although it functions as a tablet as well as a laptop, it is marketed more as a competitor to the Apple MacBook Air rather than the iPad. The new term – laplet – is cute. I did not buy the Surface to review it, but to use it. To become familiar with the functions, to know the ins and outs and be able to speak intelligently and work efficiently with clients as they move forward from XP or Win 7, or who are making purchasing decisions. The hardest part is using it. I have
a MacBook Air, an iPad Air, an iPhone 5, a Chromebook and now a Surface Pro. Forcing myself to use a different computer is always a challenge. Yes, I am writing this column on the Surface, which brings up one of the things I really like about it: the keyboard. I purchased the Type Cover Keyboard ($129), and it is a great keyboard. The feel and responsiveness of the keys feels like a full keyboard, not a tablet keyboard. Microsoft has always made great keyboards, and this is no exception. I purchased the lowest configuration available: an i3 processor with 64 GB of storage for $799. Note that this laptop replacement does not come with the keyboard cover, so adding that brought the cost to $1000. If I was purchasing this as a laptop replacement and my primary device, I would have purchased the comparable configuration to my MacBook Air – an i7 processor with 512 GB of storage. That would tick up to over $2,000 with the keyboard cover, a slightly higher hit than the MacBook Air similarly configured.
If it’s going to be used, I have to have full access to the documents and tools I use. I was quickly able to install Evernote and Dropbox – two essentials. But Windows 8.1 is built to integrate beautifully with One Drive and other Microsoft products. So using Dropbox is possible but not easy. You have to think through work-arounds and you’ll have to use them each time. If I find a better way, I’ll blog it. But for now, non-Microsoft integrations appear to be an area needing improvement.
August 22, 2014
Over the next few months, I’ll be keeping track on my blog (goo.gl/ oEaX30) of my impressions, suggestions, comments and tips for the personal user as well as the home user. If you’re wedded to Windows, but your computing needs are primarily email, Web browsing and consuming content like videos and streaming media, take a look at the Surface RT, which should be about half the price of the Pro. If you’re not wedded to Windows, give the Chromebook a look. Much less expensive, but also extremely easy to use. If you can live your digital life through a browser, the Chromebook might be a good option. Finally, first impressions. Top three pros and cons: Pros: Great typing experience; the Surface Pen and handwriting-enabled applications rock; side-by-side apps. Cons: Plays best with Microsoft products; as a tablet it’s too heavy and bulky; setting up basics like email accounts required a call to support. That just shouldn’t be.
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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By FRED CARTWRIGHT, executive director, CU-ICAR
INNOVATE Movers, shakers and disruptors shaping our future
The state of the automotive industry Lessons from Michigan for manufacturers in the Upstate There has never been a more exciting and challenging time to work in the automotive industry. The industry has weathered the great recession, is healthier than ever and is working hard to keep pace with consumer demand. Innovation in technology and workforce readiness are critical factors in sustaining a healthy automotive industry. CU-ICAR was created for this purpose, as a campus for automotive innovation, building an even brighter future for the overall industry, as well as the local economy. Recently, we participated in the annual Management Briefing Seminar, in Traverse City, Mich. MBS, now in its 49th year, is an opportunity for leading automotive executives and public officials to gather and review the state of the automotive industry. It’s not a car show per se, but an intelligently designed forum for discussing and assessing the health of the industry, its many challenges and the incredible pace at which innovation is occurring. As in past years, CU-ICAR showcased our latest “Deep Orange” concept vehicle, while building our own reputation as a global player in research, education and economic development. This year’s theme was “Pathways to Prosperity.” The mood was generally upbeat and optimistic (while occasionally glancing in the rearview mirror.)
Hot topics included:
(chauffeured driving).
Extraordinary innovation in lightweight materials and bonding of dissimilar materials. Driven by the Corporate Average Fuel Economy (CAFÉ) target of 54.5 mpg by 2025, large investments are being made in aluminum, lightweight steels and carbon fiber. For aluminum alone, there is expected to be a tenfold increase in content per vehicle from 2012 to 2025. Also, with an increasingly diverse material make-up, new bonding techniques and players have emerged. The rapid advancement of connected and automated vehicles. Of course, this topic gets a lot of attention as it permits the public’s imaginations to run wild. The reality is that the automotive industry is already in a state of evolution, moving toward a fully automated “self-driving” vehicle. Why (other than it would be really cool)? The primary driver is safety; i.e., reducing the number of road fatalities by increasingly removing the human from the equation. Today’s technology? Emergency intervention (limited control), including driver assist packages (parking, lane correction, etc.). Tomorrow’s technology? Limited on-demand automation (monitored control), followed by complex on-demand automation (transferred control), and, ultimately, autonomous driving
Innovations in managing the global supply chain and logistics. This was a hot topic of discussion by many companies and organizations. A number of factors were represented as having an impact on the global supply chain and logistics model, inspiring innovation in reducing costs. These include sustainability/ packaging, localization of suppliers close to customers, and intelligent transportation designs (e.g., no empty trucks, no empty containers, lowest cost possible, value-stream mapping, etc.). Other factors include information technology (mobile apps, cloud-based solutions, analytics), human capital (talent shortages), product lifecycle management (multi-functional, 3PLled), impact of manufacturing evolution (e.g., 3-D printing) and compliance (new U.S. regulations). Advanced powertrains. This included increasing electrification, roll out of fuel cell vehicles and an emphasis on the continued dominance of today’s internal combustion engine, including gasoline and diesel. Attracting and retaining talent in an era of changing technology and demographics. Michigan Gov. Rick Snyder spoke to this topic, proclaiming “Talent” to be his top priority. He plans to emphasize the need for more “career technical education,” via
technical colleges and trade schools, in an effort to fill his state’s 70,000 job openings. Other figures that were cited (from Deloitte): • CEOs view talent-driven innovation as the No. 1 driver of competitiveness. • The U.S. lags internationally in STEM literacy and number of students graduating with engineering degrees. • 600,000 U.S. manufacturing jobs remain open because employers cannot find the right skills. • The gap will increase as the population ages and boomers retire. • Manufacturing ranks last among 18-24 year olds as a career choice. • Women continue to be underrepresented in U.S. manufacturing sectors. While the challenges are daunting, new ideas are critical to solving the industry’s problems. CU-ICAR was such an idea more than 10 years ago that is now making a difference in addressing these challenges. Innovation drives competitiveness, which contributes to economic growth. Relevant research and development of the best and brightest automotive engineers are our continuing contributions.
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By STINSON FERGUSON, attorney, Haynsworth Sinkler Boyd
FORWARD What’s next for the Upstate, and how we’ll get there
SC sees the light
Recent legislation means a new dawn for solar business opportunities Solar energy is on the horizon as climate change and greenhouse gases are increasingly hot topics in business, science and politics – yet South Carolina has historically remained in the dark on these issues. The South Carolina Distributed Energy Resource Program, which the Legislature recently unanimously passed and Gov. Nikki Haley signed into law, is aimed at lowering financial hurdles and environmental costs and heightening investment opportunities to access renewable energy, particularly solar. This legislation is groundbreaking both for its across-the-board buy-in from various stakeholders, ranging from electrical utilities to conservationists, and for its evidentiary value as a paradigm shift in our state’s view of renewable energy development. Energy and business are directly related. As the costs of energy rise (fuel for transportation, electricity for lighting and other technology, heating/cooling), so do the costs of doing business. When businesses can find ways to lower energy costs, their costs of doing business also decrease, while profits increase. Regarding utilities, traditionally, even if a utility or investor sought to enter the solar energy market, lack of legal or regulatory mechanisms in place to control potential market forces would prohibit such an endeavor. Regarding consumers, traditionally, even if a homeowner or business owner sought to enter the solar energy market, the purchase price of necessary technology prohibited such an endeavor, especially for lower-income homeowners or small business owners. South Carolina’s legal and regula-
This legislation is groundbreaking both for its across-the-board buy-in from various stakeholders, ranging from electrical utilities to conservationists, and for its evidentiary value as a paradigm shift in our state’s view of renewable energy development. tory soil was not fertile enough to cultivate solar energy. The Distributed Energy Resource Program speaks to these barriers to entry by providing a light at the end of this historically dark tunnel. It allows homeowners and business owners to lease solar equipment from third parties, install it, generate energy, use this energy to meet their own needs, and to sell excess energy produced to electrical utilities – something previously barred by South Carolina law. It increases the cap on the amount of solar that electrical utilities can purchase or produce on its own. Hand-in-hand with these provisions are requirements that utilities derive certain percentages of their total energy portfolio from small energy producers, including solar, by 2021. Utilities must also begin obtaining energy generated from nonprofit entities such as churches and schools by 2021. The Distributed Energy Resource Program opens windows for homeowners and business owners to lease
expensive equipment necessary to generate solar energy and sell it to utilities. The option to lease rather than purchase increases affordability and therefore access and results in lower utility bills for these customers. Additionally, the excess solar energy sold back to utilities increases energy supply and therefore the overall reliability of the electrical grid, which benefits all consumers. Solar energy is “clean energy,” meaning that environmental costs (pollution) are lowered when we use it rather than energy produced from sources like coal, oil or natural gas. The Distributed Energy Resource Program also requires the Public Service Commission, the regulatory agency that oversees electrical utilities, to take a close look at all costs and benefits involved in solar energy generation and to adjust the caps on allowable amounts of renewable energy sources accordingly. Utilities will also be able to petition the Public Service Commission for approval to recover more costs if they
August 22, 2014
purchase or invest in solar energy pursuant to the program. Intensifying the timeliness of the Distributed Energy Resource Program is the fact that on June 5, 2014, the Environmental Protection Agency issued new rules aimed at carbon pollution from power plants throughout the country. The cost recovery provisions of the Distributed Energy Resource Program will better enable South Carolina to achieve targets and meet deadlines set by these new EPA rules. This legislative shift signals a change for business and the economy. Now that the Legislature has created a solid foundation for renewable energy investment and production, utilities, business owners and residents can take advantage of the opportunities provided by the program. As this legislation takes effect, lease agreements will need to be drafted and reviewed to ensure lessees are protected. Lessees and owners will require guidance to remain in compliance with parameters set by the Public Service Commission to secure the legislative protections in place. Nonprofit entities will require counsel from those familiar with the legislation to maintain their tax-exempt status. The Distributed Energy Resource Program is an example of a collaborative effort by stakeholders representing interests that traditionally conflict and often clash. This transcendent buy-in is evidence of a necessary and appropriate step in the right direction. The program is the product of compromise and collaboration and is a new dawn for South Carolina – one focused on not only economic and business development, but also individuals and the environment.
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JUMPSTART Companies blazing a trail in entrepreneurship
Reinventing the wheel Global sales put family-owned Boyd Cycling on the fast track By Leigh Savage | contributor Boyd Johnson was a professional cyclist from 2003 to 2010, racing throughout the country and often riding five hours a day. Nicole Johnson started riding later in life but was soon also racing in top-level events nationwide. So when the couple decided to start a business in 2009, it made perfect sense to JUMPSTART: Boyd Cycling FOUNDED: 2009 FOUNDERS: Boyd and Nicole Johnson EMPLOYEES: 10 PRODUCT: Bicycle wheels – six carbon models, three aluminum wheels HEADQUARTERS: 205 Cedar Lane (mile 31.4 on the GHS Swamp Rabbit Trail), Greenville
focus on what they know best – bicycles. After a small start creating wheels and bike frames from their home, the Johnsons have homed in on wheels and have doubled their business each year. In 2012, they settled into prime space on the Swamp Rabbit Trail, where their staff of 10 hand-builds six carbon models and three aluminum wheels. They expanded their family with daughter Olive, now 2, and are looking to expand their business nationally and internationally – while keeping their roots right here in the town where they got their start.
How did you end up in Greenville?
Boyd: I first came here in 1998. I drove from Buffalo for a bike race, and I had a chance to walk around town, and I decided this is where I’m going to live. I walked up and down Main Street – it was Fall for Greenville – and I sat
“You can never take what you have and rest on it and say it’s good enough, because someone else is probably working on something better.” Boyd Johnson
outside and had dinner, and drove over Paris Mountain. It had a great cycling scene. It had everything.
How did you get your start? Boyd: We started in 2009 in our house. We used to do bicycle frames and wheels, and we had stuff everywhere >>
All Sports 24/7
105.9 FM 1330 AM
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August 22, 2014
Every Game
JUMPSTART Companies blazing a trail in entrepreneurship
>>
in the house. In early 2011, we decided to focus on wheels and rented our first building, a 2,000-square-foot cinderblock building with no heat or AC. We moved here in 2012 and since we’ve been here, we’ve expanded twice.
Why did you decide to focus on just wheels? Boyd: We don’t want to be good at a lot of stuff – we want to be great at one thing. We didn’t have a lot of money, and we had so much tied up in inventory to support so many things. When we focused on wheels, we could triple the inventory we had and could start getting orders out that same day.
Why is there such a boom related to biking lately? And why does Greenville attract so many cyclists? Nicole: This has been a cycling Mecca for 28 years, and that’s because of the terrain. It’s not a major city but people are conscious of cycling. And now the mayor is behind it and businesses are behind it, and there are bike lanes and the trail.
“We don’t want to be good at a lot of stuff – we want to be great at one thing.” Boyd Johnson
Who is your target customer? Boyd: A lot of cyclists in Greenville are on our wheels, but it still makes up a small percentage of our overall business. Mostly we sell online and in bike shops throughout the country. We do focus on more serious riders but not just racers. Everyone who rides a bike wants to ride a bike faster. I get e-mails all the time from people who want nice stuff but who don’t want to enter a race.
Does it benefit your business to be on the Swamp Rabbit Trail? Boyd: We love being on the trail. We don’t need it so much to get customers, because we aren’t a retail establishment, but we love it – I commuted to work today on the trail.
How have you created such consistent growth? Do you advertise? Nicole: We have done some advertising, but it’s mostly been word of mouth. Boyd has been good at building relationships and we’ve been covered in a lot of magazines. It’s a good story because it’s different – we’re not a huge conglomerate with investors, but the business was just built with our blood, sweat and tears, and a really good team of people.
What sets your wheels apart? Boyd: They are some of the fastest designs in the world, right on par with brands that cost twice as much. We are a smaller company, so we can devote more to customer service. People like rooting for the smaller guy. Nicole: Boyd is a mastermind of innovation. You always have to come up with something improved. The quality is very high, and our customers say our product is at least as good as what the big companies are doing, and we’re also responsive. We decided our customer service would be the best in the industry, and that’s why people buy from us. They can pick up the phone and ask us questions.
What has been some of the best advice you’ve received as you started and expanded your business? Nicole: We’ve been very fortunate to work with Michelin’s small-business development group
[Michelin Development]. Whenever we need assistance with things we don’t know how to do, I reach out to them. Last week I met with them about supply chain strategy. They have also helped us from a marketing and PR standpoint.
What’s next for Boyd Cycling? Nicole: We’ll have a big announcement in six months regarding our plans. We’re also in the process of putting together an export plan. We sell direct in Thailand, Australia, Canada and South America, so we’re putting together distributors that will buy our products and sell them in country. So that’s pretty major for our growth. Boyd: We are always working on something. You can never take what you have and rest on it and say it’s good enough, because someone else is probably working on something better.
Clems n Every Game August 22, 2014
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TM
COVER STORY
THE RISE OF THE
CONTINGENT WORKFORCE
Regionally, statewide and nationally, yesterday’s full-time long-term employee is becoming tomorrow’s temp worker JOE TOPPE | STAFF jtoppe@communityjournals.com
u SOUTH CAROLINA TEMPORARY HELP WORKER PROFILE
As the Upstate manufacturing industry expands and the need for skilled employment increases, area staffing companies say contingent labor is quickly becoming a viable solution to workforce demands. Although many of the region’s largest employers such as Fluor, GE and BMW won’t release specifics, contingent labor is the industry’s fastest-growing sector, said Julie Brown, president and owner of Godshall Staffing – giving rise to what publications like the New York Times and Fast Company have called “the gig economy.” With a focus on IT, accounting, sales, leadership roles, health care, technical and office support,
DEFINED The chief categories of contingent work are: ON-CALL WORKERS – employees who are on an establishment‘s payroll, but who are only called in to work as needed. INDEPENDENT CONTRACTORS – those who work at the firm short-term, but generally possess a specialized set of skills TEMPORARY WORKERS – including Direct-hire – employees hired directly by the firm short-term Agency temps – workers on the payroll of a temp agency who work temporarily at a firm Source: “The Hidden Cost of Contingency,” Princeton University study
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41%
Female
59%
Male AGE
0
10
20
30
50
60
29%
45-64
48%
25-44 19-24
40
18%
Sources: Economic Modeling Specialists Intl. (EMSI), a CareerBuilder company, and the American Staffing Association. CareerBuilder is ASA’s research partner
Godshall supplies temporary talent for a variety of industries in the Upstate, she said. The trend is reflected nationwide: Recent studies report that almost a third of the country’s workforce is contingent, and that two-thirds of U.S. businesses employ contingent workers – with plans to hire more in the future.
Temporary work can act as a “foot in the door” to a full-time position while allowing the candidate to assess the company as a potential long-term employer, he said. The companies may use freelancers to utilize a specific skill set, control costs, avoid hiring mistakes, and identify potential full-time hires.
GETTING TO KNOW YOU
FLEXIBILITY AND SIMPLICITY
Contingent or temporary workers are skilled professionals who work for businesses on a shortterm or project basis, said Josh Miller, division director of Robert Half Technology. These professionals sometimes use their own networks as a means to gain employment, or work with specialized staffing firms that can connect them to companies looking for support, he said. Miller said contingent work could become a beneficial arrangement for both the candidate and the company.
The benefits to hiring a contingent worker may extend beyond a “feeling-out process” for both parties, however. Employers are relieved of the burden of managing insurance and employee taxes, while workers can escape bureaucracy and gain flexibility. Brown said the lowest level of liability is typically involved when a contingent worker is the employee of a staffing firm. Greenville web developer Jay Little joined the contingent workforce nearly two years ago, >>
August 22, 2014
COVER STORY >> citing full-time bureaucracy and employer frustration as reasons for the career switch. Flexible hours and the ability to choose projects are also benefits of contingent work, he said. Depending on the skill set of the worker, contingent work can become a viable means of employment. Little said he has completed projects for such companies as Erwin Penland, AFL Global, and the David C. Poole Company. Although contingent workers are not afforded some of a company’s benefits, insurance can be purchased independently, he said. An Intuit 2020 Report, “20 Trends That Will Shape the Next Decade,” said, “Businesses that contracted directly through an agency would increase efficiency, agility, and flexibility.” Today, roughly 25 to 30 percent of the U.S. workforce is contingent, and more than 80 percent of large corporations plan to substantially increase their use of a flexible workforce in coming years, according to the report. And a Randstad Workforce 360 study showed that 66 percent of employers had begun to use contingent workers by the third quarter of 2012. ➤ NUMBERED
57,873
temp workers in South Carolina each week during 2013
3.03 million 14 weeks $32,994 $2.6 billion 1,067 $122.3 billion 50,000
temp workers nationwide each week during 2013
average tenure of a temp worker
average annual salary of a temp worker
S.C.’s total staffing revenue in 2012
number of staffing offices in S.C.
nationwide staffing sales in 2013
staffing offices nationwide
Source: American Staffing Association
u WHY A TEMP?
VALUED WORK
Upstate companies use a contingent workforce to:
Data compiled by an OfficeTeam survey showed 51 percent of senior managers interviewed said a long period of consistent temporary assignments is comparable to full-time employment. More companies rely on interim professionals for their staffing needs, and employers see the value of temporary work on a resume, said Robert Hosking, executive director of OfficeTeam. “Temporary assignments help job seekers build new skills, gain exposure to a variety of industries and learn to adapt to different work environments,” he said.
u Ensure the core staff is not affected by seasonal or cyclical changes in workforce needs. u Bring a unique skill that is only needed for a specified period of time. u Provide talent specific to a project or new endeavor. u Fill in while a key employee is out for a short or extended period of time. Source: Godshall Staffing
Inconsistency and uncertainty Robert Ployhart, professor of management at the University of South Carolina Darla Moore School of Business, said there are both advantages and disadvantages to contingent work. By using contingent workers, a company can have the right people at the right time and include flexibility for both the employer and employee, he said. However, the workforce may face a lack of benefits, inconsistent pay and scheduling uncertainties, Ployhart said. Many employers are hesitant to hire full-time employees because of demand concerns, but the constant cycle of hiring, working and releasing contingent workers can become a disadvantage
“We are seeing people move here from all over the country for career opportunities.” Robert Ployhart
u TEMPING BY 2020 u The number of contingent employees will increase worldwide, while in the U.S., contingent workers will exceed 40 percent of the workforce. u Traditional full-time, full-benefits jobs will be harder to find. u Small businesses will develop their own collaborative networks of contingent workers, minimizing fixed labor costs and expanding the available talent pool. u Government will misclassify workers, creating a major issue for companies of all sizes. Work classification and work style will emerge as a target of intense political debate. Source: “20 Trends That Will Shape the Next Decade,” Intuit 2020
and take a toll on social capital and lasting work relationships, creating turnover, he said. In spite of industry obstacles, Miller said the growth of contingent work in South Carolina would increase and could be tied to certain trades, namely IT and creative employment. The Upstate has seen an increase in the need for individuals with database, front-end Web development and mobile skills for project-based positions in the health care, telecom and advertising industries, Ployhart said. As more opportunities arise locally, “we are seeing people move here from all over the country for career opportunities.”
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FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss
Outman Cigars named Upstate’s Worst Website Engenius recently announced that Outman Cigars won the online vote in its 2014 Upstate’s Worst Website Competition. Engenius’ Web and marketing team will be creating a new website from scratch for Outman, said Chris Manley, Engenius’s managing partner, in a release. “We started this campaign as an opportunity to help businesses grow one of their most important avenues of communications – their websites,” said Manley. According to Manley, dozens of websites were submitted to the competition, and a panel of judges reviewed them to identify Outman and AAA Fencecrafters as the two finalists for the public to vote on. Outman received more than double the votes of AAA Fencecrafters. “The painful part of finding the worst website is over,” said Manley. “Now comes the fun part of building a website that will match this amazing business.”
ScanSource to acquire Brazilian company Network1 ScanSource Inc., a Greenville-based international value-added distributor of specialty technology products, plans to acquire Network1, Intersmart Comércio Importação Exportação de Equipamentos Eletrônicos S.A., a Brazilian value-added distributor of communications equipment and services. ScanSource will acquire all of Network1’s operations throughout Latin America, including Brazil, Mexico, Colombia, Chile
and Peru, according to a statement released by ScanSource. The all-cash transaction includes an initial purchase price of approximately R$160 million (approximately U.S. $70 million), plus earn-out payments based on EBITDA over the next four years. The acquisition is subject to the completion of due diligence and
Iron Yard introduces Web design course The Iron Yard in Greenville will be offering a 12-week Web design course at its Greenville campus starting Sept. 22. The course will cover all aspects of the Web design process, including learning HTML, CSS, Sass, Javascript, grid systems, typography, color theory, branding and systems-based design, some design history, and research methods.
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regulatory approvals and is expected to close by the end of 2014. In the interim, business will continue as usual for both ScanSource and Network1. Following the closing of the transaction, Rafael Paloni, Network1’s CEO, will lead ScanSource’s communications business in Latin America, according to the release.
August 22, 2014
The Iron Yard is partnering with the Unmatched Style Web design team to develop the course. The classes are structured like a typical five-day workweek with lecture in the morning and lab time in afternoon. Friday is an open lab day where students can work with the instructor to catch up on projects or get a head start on the weekend’s homework. For more information or to apply, visit theironyard.com/academy/ web-design or call 864-9520099.
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FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss
Mannan Pharma finds home at ITOR Mannan Pharmaceuticals LLC, an organization dedicated to developing and delivering effective pharmaceutical solutions to various muscular dystrophies and metastatic cancers, will establish operations at the Institute for Translational Oncology Research (ITOR) of Greenville Health System (GHS) in Greenville County. Mannan plans to expand its research and development team to create up to 34 new positions over the next several years.
“We believe that ITOR provides an ideal environment for Mannan to develop solutions to various muscular dystrophies [MDs] and metastatic cancers,” said Dr. Xiaohua Wu, senior executive with Mannan Pharmaceuticals LLC, in a press release. “Some of the most advanced cancer treatments anywhere in the world are being offered at ITOR, which provides organizations like ours with the services, technologies and facilities required to develop life-saving drugs for
Wagner Wealth Management opens Seneca office Wagner Wealth Management is opening its third office in Seneca this week, the company announced. “This new office will allow us to better serve our existing clients and build new relationships,” said Dan Wagner, president of Wagner Wealth.
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as hard as you work with Club events, parties, and mixers designed to help you kick back and relax
The Seneca office is located at 135 Eagles Nest Drive, Suite B1, he said. Sandra McCall will serve as the financial representative for the office. This is Wagner’s third office in the Upstate. The other offices are in Anderson and downtown Greenville.
patients in need.” Mannan is the first pharmaceutical company to pioneer development of compound-based drugs that target a novel pathway to treat various MDs and metastatic cancers, according to the release. Mannan Pharmaceuti-
cals’ drugs in development are anticipated to target more than half of all MD patients, a drug market estimated at nearly $15 billion. Mannan is a privately held company, and had been considering locations nationwide before deciding to open at ITOR, Dr. Wu noted. Mannan expects to add up to three more associates in 2014 and then will continue to grow and expand its team as “investment and developments warrant.”
Viva Recycling to establish Anderson operations Viva Recycling of South Carolina, a tire recycler and rubber manufacturer, recently announced a $6.9 million investment to open a new facility in Anderson, which is expected to create 14 new jobs in the area over the next five years. Viva Recycling of South Carolina was established in 2011 and is headquartered in Moncks Corner. The company processes scrap tires to produce environmentally responsible recycled rubber products for home, business and recreation. Their facility separates the scrap tires and other selected industrial rubber scrap into their rubber, steel and fiber component parts.
The company’s products include items such as landscape mulch, playground safety flooring, artificial field infill, rubber sidewalks, rubber pavers, equestrian flooring and rubberized asphalt. “We are proud to build Viva’s second South Carolina facility in Anderson, providing the Upstate with a true recycling option for scrap tire recycling, as we have successfully done in Berkeley County, where we already turn over 4 million scrap tires into useful consumer and other valuable products,” said Marty Sergi, president and CEO of Viva Recycling, in a release. The company’s new facility is expected to become operational by December 2014.
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FINE PRINT Business briefs you can’t miss
WorkLink to offer Incumbent Worker Training grants The WorkLink Workforce Investment Board recently announced that it is offering Incumbent Worker Training (IWT) grants for businesses in Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties who participate in its IWT program. The grants allow employers that have at least one employee and are current on all South Carolina state tax obligations to upgrade the skills of their current workforce through reimburs-
able training services and expenses. Additionally, any employers who are awarded the training funds must become a “recognizing level” business with the SC WorkReady Communities Initiative and pay at least $10.50 per hour to their employees. All approved trainings must be completed by April 30, 2015. For more information or to apply, contact Reneé Murdock at 864-6461468 or rmurdock@ worklinkweb.com or visit bit.ly/IWTgrants.
UCAN ranked among Top 20 Angel Groups Upstate Carolina Angel Network (UCAN) recently ranked No. 8 on Investor Mosaic’s Top 20 Angel Groups list. To compile the list, Investor Mosaic references account factors such as past performance, network strength, selection aptitude and brand, among other factors. Based on that information, Investor Mosaic quantifies the information and ranks the angel groups. For this report, 370 angel groups that had made at least one investment in the past two years
were evaluated. Based on the report, UCAN finished behind the No. 1 Life Science Angels and No. 5 Tech Coast Angels, which was distinguished as having the strongest network. The report also found that all of the Top 20 invested heavily in both Internet and health care startups since 2011, with the two industries accounting for 55 percent of all deals in that time.
recognizing our community heroes
September 11, 2014 | Noon | Hyatt Regency Greenville Recognizing & Thanking Our Community Heroes While Remembering 9/11 To sponsor or attend go to www.greenvilleheroes.org or Text-To-Pledge keyword HERO1 to 414-44
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SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ
SQUARE FEET Real estate deals and developments across the region
Upscale condos planned for South Main ScanSource exec revives pre-recession development plan architectural language that has been a part of the downtown renaissance of the past 30 years,” said Anthony Tiberia, architect with McMillan Pazdan Smith. If plans are approved at the Sept. 4 Design Review Board Meeting, Owings said he hopes to start construction in November or December.
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According to Marty Navarro of Greenville-based Navarro Real Estate, who represented Yagoto Congaree in the sale, Kirin is considering developing this 10.5acre parcel into restaurants, office, medical and/or multifamily.
HAYWOOD MALL
E AR
investment group Kirin Hopkins Real Estate Group has purchased the former Nippon Center/Yagoto restaurant property located across from the Haywood Mall at 500 Congaree Road in Greenville for $2.4 million.
NG
California-based real estate
CO
Haywood Mall-area property sold to California investment group
HA
A local businessman is planning a foray into the downtown development rush with a six-story condo project at 133 S. Main St. at Court Street in Greenville, next to Bellacino’s Pizza and Grinders. Steven Owings, cofounder of Greenville-based ScanSource, a wholesale distributor of specialty technology products, has revived plans he had in 2007 before the economic downturn to build a small, mixed-use condo building on the property he owns. Owings said the building will be “about 30,000 square feet” and will have seven or eight condos with upscale finishes and design. Plans filed with the city have a ground level for commercial and residential use, four stories of residential and a penthouse apartment. “The design of 133 S. Main St. references the historic architecture of Court Square and Main Street, while incorporating the more modern
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SQUARE FEET Real estate deals and developments across the region
SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ
SC Realtors: Prices rising, affordability high South Carolina Realtors released its July statewide market report late last week, and numbers show that prices are rising in most local areas, though low supply and tight credit standards remain hurdles to recovery. Interest rates are still low and affordability is historically high but below its all-time peak. While some claim that housing has stalled, the report says the truth is price recovery has simply outpaced comparable wage growth, which is a short-term challenge. With tight inventory and tight credit, further economic gains are needed in order for housing to regain some traction. For the 12-month
NUMBER OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES, CONDOS & VILLAS SOLD Most Recent Month Most Recent Quarter Year to Date 7-2013 July 2014 % Change Q2 13 Q2 14 % Change 2013 2014 % Change Greater Greenville 1,001 940 -6.1% 2,751 2,830 +2.9% 5,559 5,635 +1.4% Spartanburg 381 326 -14.4% 997 1,064 +6.7% 2,111 2,135 +1.1% Western Upstate 342 375 +9.6% 977 1,030 +5.4% 1,994 2,109 +5.8% State Totals* 6,294 6,311 +0.3% 18,006 18,547 +3.0% 37,076 37,803 +2.0%
MEDIAN PRICE OF RESIDENTIAL HOMES, CONDOS & VILLAS SOLD Most Recent Month Most Recent Quarter Year to Date 7-2013 July 2014 % Change Q2 13 Q2 14 % Change 2013 2014 % Change Greater Greenville $162,000 $169,000 +4.3% $156,000 $159,000 +1.9% $153,900 $158,000 +2.7% Spartanburg $133,500 $136,900 +2.5% $123,000 $124,762 +1.4% $122,800 $125,000 +1.8% Western Upstate $139,900 $146,250 +4.5% $137,000 $138,900 +1.4% $133,000 $136,000 +2.3% State Totals* $163,000 $167,000 +2.5% $158,500 $165,000 +4.1% $155,000 $161,500 +4.2%
AVERAGE DAYS ON MARKET UNTIL SALE (DOM) Most Recent Month Most Recent Quarter Year to Date 7-2013 July 2014 % Change Q2 13 Q2 14 % Change 2013 2014 % Change Greater Greenville 87 76 -12.7% 86 85 -1.2% 92 85 -6.9% Spartanburg 143 126 -12.1% 139 138 -0.7% 145 136 -6.5% Western Upstate 118 116 -1.4% 113 107 -5.3% 116 111 -3.9% State Totals* 119 108 -9.2% 118 115 -2.5% 122 115 -5.7% *State Totals match the figures in the Monthly Indicator report, and are not a summation of the areas in the tables. This is done so as not to double-count any listings that may be found in more than one MLS.
GABRIEL BROTHERS, AKA GABE’S, a private discount fashion retailer founded in 1961 and headquartered in Virginia, will be opening a new, 50,000-squarefoot location at the Gallery Shopping Center on Haywood Road. The store will be located in the same shopping center as the new Conn’s electronics and appliance store chain. Gabriel Brothers sells designer brands and fashions for up to 70 percent off department and specialty store prices. Their stores carry designer brand-name ladies, juniors, lingerie, men’s and children’s apparel, along with footwear, accessories, handbags, bath and beauty
products, home décor and housewares. The company also owns The Rugged Wearhouse at 20 Haywood Road.
MOE JOE COFFEE & MUSIC HOUSE at 20 S. Main St. is set to open Monday, Aug. 25, at 6 a.m. After several delays from previous contractors, the coffeehouse/wine bar/music venue is putting on the finishing touches this week. The new venue will offer breakfast foods, tapas and desserts in addition to coffee, craft beer and a “unique and eclectic wine list you won’t find anywhere else.” Moe Joe will also feature acts “hand-curated by nationally known local musicians as well as unplugged sets from some of the top talents performing at the city’s major venues.” When stopping by, be sure to check out the coffee bar made out of espresso beans.
period spanning August 2013 through July 2014, pending sales in the state were up 4.9 percent overall, according to the report. The price range with the largest gain in sales was the $300,001 and above range, where they increased 13.4 percent.
➤ NUMBERED u New listings increased 3.3 percent to 9,975. u Pending sales were down 1.3 percent to 5,915. u Inventory levels rose 0.2 percent to 49,196 units. u The median sales price increased 2.5 percent to $167,000. u Days on market was down 9.2 percent to 108 days. u Absorption rates improved as Months Supply of Inventory was down 4.2 percent to 9.1 months Source: July 2014 SC Realtors market report
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NEW TO THE STREET The freshest faces on the business landscape
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1. Kay Jewelers recently opened at 688 Fairview Road in Simpsonville. For more information, call 864-228-9688 or visit kay.com. 2. Conn’s Home Plus recently opened at 605 Haywood Road in Greenville. Hours are Monday-Friday from 10 a.m.-9:30 p.m., Saturday from 9 a.m.-9:30 p.m. and Sunday from 10 a.m.-8 p.m. For more information, call 864-6751331 or visit conns.com. 3. Allen Tate Realtors recently held the grand opening of a new location at 1025 Woodruff Road in Greenville’s Magnolia Park. The new location can accommodate up to 40 realtors and staff. For more information, call 864-5167910 or visit allentate.com. 4. Flatwood Grill recently held its dedication in its location in the GreenvilleSpartanburg International Airport’s terminal. Flatwood Grill is part of GSP’s $125 million terminal renovation.
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The Field House at West End • Class A building built in 2006 • Excellent downtown location • Overlooks baseball field
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August 22, 2014
Hunter Garrett, CCIM, SIOR tel 864 232 9040 hgarrett@naief.com
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
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SHERRY JACKSON | STAFF sjackson@communityjournals.com @SJackson_CJ
SQUARE FEET Real estate deals and developments across the region
Trammell Crow brings ‘world-class’ reputation to Greenville News project Dallas company is one of nation’s biggest CRE developers News broke last week that the Greenville News building – the behemoth concrete structure occupying almost 4 acres of prime downtown real estate – is under contract to Dallas-based Trammell Crow. So who is Trammell Crow? The Trammell Crow Company was founded in 1948 when Trammell Crow built his first commercial development – a warehouse – in downtown Dallas. In 1959 the company built the 14-story Hartford Insurance Company building, also in Dallas, and over the next several years the company quickly expanded across the country, fashioning some of the nation’s most iconic buildings and structures.
➤ NUMBERED u 2,600 – buildings developed/ acquired u $60 billion – value of buildings u 540 million square feet u $4.8 billion of projects in progress u $1.9 billion in pipeline In 1971 Forbes called Crow the “largest landlord in the United States.” In 1986 The Wall Street Journal said Trammell Crow was the “largest developer in the nation.” Today, Trammell Crow is one of the nation’s leading developers and investors in commercial real estate, with offices in 16 cities across the U.S. The company went public in 1997, and in 2006 was acquired by CB Richard Ellis for $2.2 billion. Trammell Crow now operates as an inde-
pendent subsidiary of CBRE. Crow was considered a visionary, and many in the industry say he single-handedly established real estate as a profession. “He was able to aggregate the finest minds in real estate from across the country, bring them to Dallas and train them, then send them out all over the world,” said Holt Lunsford, CEO of Holt Lunsford Commercial, in a D Magazine story in June. ICONIC “Everywhere you PROJECTS go, you run into Crow alumni, Embarcadero and they’re Center in San always the topFrancisco shelf people in every market. Who else has ever done that? It’s unprecedented.” Crow died in 2009 at 94. At the time, Jim Carreker, a >> The Anatole
Peachtree Center in Atlanta Photo by Ildar Sagdejev
Photo by Joe Parks
Hotel in Dallas
u THE LOCALS REACT • KYLE PUTNAM, partner, RealOp Investments: “Trammell Crow Company is one of the most wellknown and respected developers in the country, and their entrance into the Greenville market is exciting as it continues to put our city on the national map. Their involvement should be considered a positive for Greenville as Trammell Crow has a reputation of engaging with the local community, and I fully expect another world-class development for our city.”
• ROBERT HUGHES, project manager, Hughes Development: “We are very excited that Greenville is attracting talented developers from around the country like Trammell Crow. Greenville is on the rise and it’s not surprising that national firms are starting to show an interest in developing here. Their presence can’t do anything but help Greenville.”
• KNOX WHITE, mayor of Greenville: “This is a watershed moment for downtown Greenville. Trammell Crow choosing to invest in Greenville sends a strong and positive message to investors across the country that Greenville is a good place to be. This is the kind of strong mixed-use development concept that blends perfectly with the special character of our Main Street.”
Photo by J.P. Fagerback
Brussels International Trade Market
Photo by Portman Holdings
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UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
August 22, 2014
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SOCIAL SNAPSHOT Inside the Upstate’s networking and social scene
T F AT P A N T S O U . OF S T O R A G E
ALL INCLUSIVE
TICKETS! CLEMSON MBA WELCOMES NEW STUDENTS More than 80 new students started their journey with the Clemson MBA program last week. College of Business and Behavioral Science Dean Bobby McCormick stopped by to welcome them and share some words of wisdom (Tip No. 1: “Go to class!”).
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former CEO of Trammell Crow, said, “The world will remember Mr. Crow as a legendary real estate developer and businessman because of his unparalleled vision
and passion for success.” If the sale goes through, Larry Pantlin, senior managing director of the Trammell Crow Company, said that after demolition, the
Greenville News building will be replaced by a mixed-use development, including a hotel, office space, residential and retail, according to the Greenville News.
TICKETS ON
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u MORE LOCAL REACTIONS • ROBERT BENEDICT, PH.D., director, Clemson Master of Real Estate Development Program: “Trammell Crow Company is an iconic development firm that has a national footprint. Institutional investors closely follow them, and this is a strong endorsement of the Greenville market. Trammell Crow’s pursuit and acquisition of the Greenville News building demonstrates a confidence that large institutional players view our market as a dynamic, emerging market.”
• DOUG HARPER, chairman, Harper Corporation: “The fate of the Greenville News site is important because it is one of the most prominent corners in downtown and the Upstate. There is an opportunity to develop it in a way that will be a community asset for many years to come. It is good that a company such as Trammell Crow with their national reputation and expertise will be developing the site, and I am confident they will utilize the best practice of urban development.” August 22, 2014
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CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
ON THE MOVE Play-by-play of Upstate careers
HIRED
HIRED
HIRED
SELECTED
PROMOTED
John Slaughter
Dr. Melanie Jones
Robert Halfacre
Hank Hyatt
David Dyrhaug
Named superintendent of the recently created National Parks group that includes Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Ninety Six National Historic Site and Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
Joined the Greenwood Genetic Center as assistant director of the molecular diagnostic laboratory. Jones earned a doctorate in genetics at Virginia Commonwealth University and completed fellowships at Emory Genetics Laboratory.
Named Wells Fargo’s senior business banking relationship manager and market president for Pickens and Oconee counties. Halfacre most recently served as a business services officer and city executive with BB&T in Clemson and Seneca.
Selected as an inaugural Education Attainment Fellow as part of an initiative led by the American Chamber of Commerce Executives. Hyatt is vice president of economic development at the Greenville Chamber.
Named city administrator by Simpsonville City Council. Dyrhaug has been planning director for Simpsonville for seven years and has served as interim city administrator. He previously worked as the city planner for Destin, Fla.
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CONTRIBUTE: New hires, promotions & award winners may be featured in On the Move. Send information and photos to onthemove@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
ON THE MOVE Play-by-play of Upstate careers
EDUCATION:
FINANCIAL SERVICES:
The St. Joseph’s Catholic School board of trustees recently announced the addition of Matt Foster and James Satterfield Jr. as new members elected to serve three-year terms. Foster is a managing partner at Greenville Rental Properties and the first St. Joseph’s graduate to serve on the school’s board of trustees. Satterfield is an associate professor at Clemson University in educational leadership and the higher education department.
Trip LaCoste has joined Wells Fargo’s local business banking team as a senior business banking relationship manager. LaCoste joins Wells Fargo from Regions Bank in Greenville, where he served as a commercial banker.
Christ Church Episcopal School recently announced that Molly Miller, sixth-grade math teacher and varsity girls lacrosse coach, is now the president of the South Carolina High School Lacrosse Association. Additionally, Joel Rice, CCES football assistant, was recently honored as a “Coach of Influence” during the FCA Jamboree at Wren High School.
INSURANCE: Rosenfeld Einstein recently added Barbara Migliorisi as a benefits account manager. Migliorisi has more than 15 years of professional experience in human resources and employee benefits administration, much of it in the professional services, retail, distribution/logistics and engineering industries across the Southeast.
LEGAL: Jennifer Johnsen has been honored with the John Alan Appleman Award
by the Federation of Defense and Corporate Counsel (FDCC). Johnsen has been a member of the FDCC since 2007 and is currently the chair of the Life, Health and Disability Section. She is a shareholder at Gallivan, White & Boyd P.A.
NONPROFIT: Make-A-Wish South Carolina announces that Phil Gregory, Scott Harrison and William “Bill” Williamson have been selected to serve on the organization’s board of directors to a term that will last through Aug. 31, 2017. Gregory is the founder and principal owner of Gregory Pest Solutions. Harrison is the regional vice president of operations with The Apple Gold Group, a franchisee of Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill and Bar. Williamson is the retired VP and COO of HMR Advantage Health Systems.
The Hearth Center for Eating Disorders at the Carolina Children’s Home announced that it has named Stephen M. Creech Jr. as chairman of the board and John R. Kessler Jr. as executive director. Creech is an assistant vice president for BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and is a fellow of the American College of Healthcare Executives with nearly 10 years of experience in health care administration. Kessler previously served as The Hearth Center’s marketing vice president and as executive director.
STAFFING: HTI Employment Solutions recently announced the addition of Robert Farry as a professional recruiter for the company. Farry is a graduate of Winthrop University.
“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” - Seneca -
Gallivan, White & Boyd congratulates Luanne Runge as she begins a new chapter at the Liberty Fellowship. From all your colleagues and friends at GWB, we wish you the very best.
www.GWBlawfirm.com August 22, 2014
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
29
CONTRIBUTE: Got a hot date? Submit event information for consideration to events@upstatebusinessjournal.com.
PLANNER Events you should have on your calendar
FRIDAY AUGUST 22 FRIDAY FORUM Embassy Suites, 670 Verdae Blvd., Greenville; 8-9:30 a.m. SPEAKER: Tom Merritt, Oobe COST: $12 per Greenville Chamber member, $20 for non-chamber members REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org FAMILY BUSINESS SEMINAR Wofford College, The Space in the Mungo Center, 429 N. Church St., Spartanburg; 10 a.m.-6 p.m. SPEAKER: Henry Hutcheson, Family Business USA COST: $899 for an individual, including accommodations at the Marriott and most meals. $799 for one additional guest, $600 per person for two or more guests REGISTER AT: wofford.edu/thespace/ familybusinessseminar
SATURDAY AUGUST 23 FAMILY BUSINESS
SEMINAR Marriott Spartanburg, 299 N. Church St., Spartanburg; 8 a.m.-4 p.m. SPEAKER: Henry Hutcheson, Family Business USA COST: $899 for an individual, including accommodations at the Marriott and most meals. $799 for one additional guest, $600 per person for two or more guests REGISTER AT: wofford.edu/thespace/ familybusinessseminar
Point, 33 Market Point Drive, Greenville; 8:30-9:30 a.m.
COST: $15 per person
HOURS
TECHNOLOGY
SPEAKER: Myles Golden
CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber.com
City Range, 615 Haywood Road, Greenville; 11:30 a.m.
TOPIC: Networking vs. Netweaving
REGISTER AT: simpsonvillechamber.com
Sherman College of Chiropractic, 2020 Springfield Road, Boiling Springs; 5:30-7 p.m.
Call Golden Career Strategies at 864-527-0425 to request an invitation FILEMAKER TRAINING SERIES The Scarpetta Group, 425 N. Main St., Suite D, Simpsonville; 9 a.m.-5 p.m. COST: $1,835, includes materials and lunch. Attendees are asked to bring their own computers.
ZF TRANSMISSIONS JOB FAIR Brookwood Church, 580 Brookwood Point Place, Simpsonville; 9 a.m.-4 p.m.
REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org
HTI Employment Solutions will be accepting applications and conducting interviews on site FOR INFORMATION: htijobs.com/zf EMAIL RESUMES TO: ZFTGreenville@htijobs.com
MONDAY AUGUST 25 GCS ROUNDTABLE The Office Center at the
CONTACT: 877-501-8038 LEGISLATIVE LUNCH Simpsonville City Hall, 118 NE Main St., Simpsonville; 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. SPEAKER: Jennifer Z. Snow, strategic project director, Greenville Health System TOPIC: Health Care in the Upstate
TUESDAY AUGUST 26 HR MANAGEMENT CONFERENCE TD Convention Center, 1 Exposition Drive, Greenville; 7:30 a.m.-5 p.m. TOPIC: Putting the Pieces Together for Outstanding HR Leadership COST: $125 for GSHRM members, $169 for non-members REGISTER AT: greenvillehr.shrm.org COFFEE WITH THE PRESIDENT Greer Chamber of Commerce, 111 Trade St., Greer; 8-10 a.m.
COST: Free to attend Contact: 864-594-5000 REGISTER AT: spartanburgchamber.com
WEDNESDAY AUGUST 27 TAILORED FOR TAYLORS Salvation Army Family Thrift Store, 5152 Wade Hampton Blvd., Taylors; 8-9 a.m. COST: Free to attend REGISTER AT: greerchamber.com PULSE SOCIAL YAPPY HOUR Greenville Humane Society, 305 Airport Road, Greenville; 5:30-8 p.m.
Meet the Greer Chamber’s new president/CEO Mark Owens
Open only to PULSE members.
FOR INFORMATION: greerchamber.com
REGISTER AT: greenvillechamber.org
BUSINESS AFTER
CONTACT: 864-239-3743
UPSTATE WOMEN IN
TOPIC: The Next Generation of Computing REGISTER AT: uwisc.com CONTACT: Jill Rose at 864-908-0105 or uwitsc@outlook.com WOMEN’S BUSINESS NETWORK Stella’s Southern Bistro, 684 Fairview Road, Simpsonville; noon-1 p.m. COST: $20 per person REGISTER AT: simpsonvillechamber.com CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber.com BUSINESS AFTER HOURS The Springs at Simpsonville, 214 E. Curtis St., Simpsonville; 4-7 p.m. CONTACT: Jennifer Richardson at jrichardson@ simpsonvillechamber.com REGISTER AT: simpsonvillechamber.com
JOIN THE 20 COMPANIES SHARING WORK AND EVENT SPACE IN THE HEART OF DOWNTOWN GREENVILLE www.JOINOPENWORKS.com 30
UPSTATE BUSINESS JOURNAL
August 22, 2014
Historic photograph available from the Greenville Historical Society.
SNAPSHOT A quick look into the Upstate’s past
From “Remembering Greenville: Photographs from the Coxe Collection,” by Jeffrey R. Willis
GREG BECKNER / STAFF
Today the gas station is gone. The site is a parking lot with a wall separating the parking lot from Main Street.
Photo Provided
In the first half of the 20th century, downtown Greenville had numerous gas and service stations, many of which were architecturally significant. One of the most whimsical was located below the News-Piedmont Building on South Main Street. A distinctive feature of this station was the location of the rest rooms for men and women at the corner angles with cone-shaped roofs. The station was recessed from Main Street to provided space for vehicles.
MARKETING & EVENTS
IN THIS WEEK’S ISSUE OF UBJ? WANT A COPY FOR YOUR LOBBY?
SEPTEMBER: TECHNOLOGY
Kate Madden
DIGITAL STRATEGIST PRESIDENT/CEO Mark B. Johnston mjohnston@communityjournals.com
UBJ PUBLISHER
ART DIRECTOR Kristy M. Adair
Ryan L. Johnston rjohnston@communityjournals.com
OPERATIONS Holly Hardin
EXECUTIVE EDITOR
Michael Allen, Whitney Fincannon
Susan Clary Simmons ssimmons@communityjournals.com
MANAGING EDITOR Jerry Salley jsalley@communityjournals.com
SENIOR BUSINESS WRITER Jennifer Oladipo
STAFF WRITERS
Sherry Jackson, Cindy Landrum, April A. Morris, Joe Toppe
CONTRIBUTING WRITER Jeanne Putnam
PHOTOGRAPHER Greg Beckner MARKETING & ADVERTISING SALES REPRESENTATIVES Kristi Jennings, Donna Johnston, Annie Langston, Lindsay Oehman, Pam Putman
Is the outsourcing scare over? Can social media change how we enjoy downtown? What exactly is data mining, and should we be scared? Is 3-D imaging the wave of the future?
1988 1989 1990 1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011
UBJ milestone
UBJ milestone jackson Marketing Group’s 25 Years 1988 Jackson Dawson opens in Greenville at Downtown Airport
Emily Price
ART & PRODUCTION
1988
1997 Jackson Dawson launches motorsports Division 1993
1990 Jackson Dawson acquires therapon marketing Group and moves to Piedmont office Center on Villa.
>>
Chairman larry Jackson, Jackson marketing Group. Photos by Greg Beckner / Staff
Jackson Marketing Group celebrates 25 years By sherry Jackson | staff | sjackson@communityjournals.com
Solve. Serve. Grow. Those three words summarize Jackson Marketing Group’s guiding principles, and according to owner Larry Jackson, form the motivation that has kept the firm thriving for the past 25 years.
Jackson graduated from Bob Jones University with a degree in video and film production and started his 41-year career in the communications industry with the U.S. Army’s Public Information Office. He served during
Vietnam, where he said he was “luckily” stationed in the middle of Texas at Fort Hood. He left the service and went to work in public affairs and motorsports at Ford Motor Company in Detroit. After a stint at Bell and Howell, where he was responsible for managing Ford’s dealer marketing and training, the entrepreneurial bug hit and he co-founded Jackson-Dawson Marketing Communications, a company specializing in dealer training and product launches for the auto industry in 1980. In 1987, Jackson wanted to move back south and thought Greenville would be a good fit. An avid pilot, he
learned of an opportunity to purchase Cornerstone Aviation, a fixed base operation (FBO) that served as a service station for the Greenville Downtown Airport, providing fuel, maintenance and storage. In fact, when he started the Greenville office of what is now Jackson Marketing Group (JMG) in 1988, the offices were housed on the second floor in an airport hangar. “Clients would get distracted by the airplanes in the hangars and we’d have to corral them to get back upstairs to the meeting,” Jackson said. Jackson sold the FBO in 1993, but says it was a great way to get to know Greenville’s fathers and leaders
>>
with a majority of them utilizing the general aviation airport as a “corporate gateway to the city.” In 1997, Jackson and his son, Darrell, launched Jackson Motorsports Group. The new division was designed to sell race tires and go to racetracks to sell and mount the tires. Darrell Jackson now serves as president of the motorsports group and Larry Jackson has two other children and a son-in-law who work there. Jackson said all his children started at the bottom and “earned their way up.” Jackson kept the Jackson-Dawson branches in Detroit and others in Los Angeles and New York until he sold his portion of that partnership in 2009 as part of his estate planning. The company now operates a small office in Charlotte, but its main headquarters are in Greenville in a large office space off Woodruff Road, complete with a vision gallery that displays local artwork and an auditorium Jackson makes available for non-profit use. The Motorsports Group is housed in an additional 26,000 square feet building just down the street, and the agency is currently looking for another 20,000 square feet. Jackson said JMG has expanded into other verticals such as financial, healthcare, manufacturing and pro-bono work, but still has a strong focus on the auto industry and transportation. It’s
2003 motorsports Division acquires an additional 26,000 sq. ft. of warehouse space
1998 1998 Jackson Dawson moves to task industrial Court
also one of the few marketing companies in South Carolina to handle all aspects of a project in-house, with four suites handling video production, copywriting, media and research and web design. Clients include heavyweights such as BMW, Bob Jones University, the Peace Center, Michelin and Sage Automotive. Recent projects have included an interactive mobile application for Milliken’s arboretum and 600-acre Spartanburg campus and a marketing campaign for the 2013 Big League World Series. “In my opinion, our greatest single achievement is the longevity of our client relationships,” said Darrell Jackson. “Our first client from back in 1988 is still a client today. I can count on one hand the number of clients who have gone elsewhere in the past decade.” Larry Jackson says his Christian faith and belief in service to others, coupled with business values rooted in solving clients’ problems, have kept
2009 Jackson Dawson changes name to Jackson marketing Group when larry sells his partnership in Detroit and lA 2003
2009-2012 Jackson marketing Group named a top BtoB agency by BtoB magazine 4 years running
him going and growing his business over the years. He is passionate about giving back and outreach to non-profits. The company was recently awarded the Community Foundation Spirit Award. The company reaffirmed its commitment to serving the community last week by celebrating its 25th anniversary with a birthday party and a 25-hour Serve-A-Thon partnership with Hands on Greenville and Habitat for Humanity. JMG’s 103 full-time employees worked in shifts around the clock on October 22 and 23 to help construct a house for a deserving family. As Jackson inches towards retirement, he says he hasn’t quite figured out his succession plan yet, but sees the companies staying under the same umbrella. He wants to continue to strategically grow the business. “From the beginning, my father has taught me that this business is all about our people – both our clients and our associates,” said his son, Darrell. “We have created a focus and a culture that strives to solve problems, serve people and grow careers.” Darrell Jackson said he wants to “continue helping lead a culture where we solve, serve and grow. If we are successful, we will continue to grow towards our ultimate goal of becoming the leading integrated marketing communications brand in the Southeast.”
2011 Jackson marketing Group/Jackson motorsports Group employee base reaches 100 people
2008 2012 Jackson marketing Group recognized by Community Foundation with Creative spirit Award
pro-bono/non-proFit Clients American Red Cross of Western Carolinas Metropolitan Arts Council Artisphere Big League World Series The Wilds Advance SC South Carolina Charities, Inc. Aloft Hidden Treasure Christian School
CoMMUnitY inVolVeMent & boarD positions lArry JACkson (ChAirmAn): Bob Jones University Board chairman, The Wilds Christian Camp and Conference Center board member, Gospel Fellowship Association board member, Past Greenville Area Development Corporation board member, Past Chamber of Commerce Headquarters Recruiting Committee member, Past Greenville Tech Foundation board member David Jones (Vice President Client services, Chief marketing officer): Hands on Greenville board chairman mike Zeller (Vice President, Brand marketing): Artisphere Board, Metropolitan Arts Council Board, American Red Cross Board, Greenville Tech Foundation Board, South Carolina Chamber Board eric Jackson (Jackson motorsports Group sales specialist): Salvation Army Boys & Girls Club Advisory Board
November 1, 2013 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal 21
20 Upstate bUsiness joUrnal November 1, 2013
AS SEEN IN
NOVEMBER 1, 2013
OCTOBER: LEADERSHIP
ADVERTISING DESIGN CLIENT SERVICES Anita Harley, Jane Rogers
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August 22, 2014
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